Covid Kayaking
By Tamsin Venn
Sea kayaking and social distancing work well. Use your seven-foot paddle to measure distance, take it with you everywhere, and no rafting up, except under extreme duress. With fortitude and hope to keep our hearts and souls intact, we paddle onward.
But the seascape has definitely changed, and as we all know, can change swiftly.
We talked to a few kayak leaders about how they see Covid-19 will affect on-water recreation this spring.
David and Peter Jones of Driftwood Kayaks are well-separated on this MITA island rest stop, as is Peter's white kayak. David's and Tammy's boats are too close together if they didn't belong to a married couple. Photo by Tamsin Venn.
Covid is definitely on the radar of the Maine Island Trail Assn. (MITA).
"In most cases I believe the island use guidelines (# visitors, etc.) will remain in effect and people will then be on their own to practice social distancing. And that of course assumes there are no Stay At Home orders in effect," says Doug Welch, MITA's executive director via email.
"We haven't heard from any island owners yet, but we're planning to reach out to them if the situation does not improve," says Brian Marcaurelle, MITA's Program Director. "Particularly those with infrastructure on their islands (cabins, platforms, docks, etc) since they are the most likely to have concerns.
"We're also considering ways to maintain a strong stewardship presence this season while keeping volunteers, staff, and island users safe. It's strange to be having conversations about island logbooks and pens in the context of disease vectors.
"The paper guidebook went to print just before things got crazy, but the mobile app gives us the ability to provide updates to island guidelines instantaneously. More so than in years past, we'll be encouraging folks to consult the MITA app for the most up-to-date info," he says.
Meanwhile to help provide "some measure of joy and distraction" until MITA members can come together again, MITA has launched a platform for virtual events called All in the Same Boat. For the first edition it teamed up with Zack Anchors of Portland Paddle for a presentation on essential kayak gear. Go to mita.org
Getting help launching your boat, as Larry MacIntosh does here, should be safe. Photo courtesy Larry MacIntosh.
Larry McIntosh, who leads the Brattleboro Outing Club paddle program in Vermont (see related story), says it will remain closed until further notice. BOC typically runs more than a dozen paddle trips April to October for its members. The BOC Board will use the latest information from the Vermont Dept. of Health and the governor's directives to determine when facilities can reopen. Governor Phil Scott has issued a "stay home, stay safe" order.
McIntosh is sending emails to the Vermont Department of Health and governor, suggesting more details, and asking for exemptions for such "exercising" as paddling which he feels can be done within the CDC limits.
"Paddling is good for both body and soul, and done right, can still keep folks safe and well," McIntosh says.
Group tours of strangers or casual friends, like this one through the Everglades mangrove forest, are increasingly not offered by responsible tour operators. Photo courtesy of Everglades Area Tours.
Paddling.com has a good infographic on social distancing paddling. It advises: Keep the group small, maintain six feet at all times, only touch your own gear. If you grab a stern toggle to help take a boat to the water, grab the same toggle next time. Paddle six feet away from each other. Avoid sharing food/water. File a float plan. Post your trip to entertain other paddlers.
Everglades Area Tours, Fla., has made all tours private. Bring just your family and it will provide your own guide and no other guests. The outfitter sanitizes boats and gear before each tour, hand sanitizers and washing stations available to all.
"No decisions about the 2020 Sojourn, currently scheduled for June 20-26 (with a volunteer cleanup on June 19), have been made to date, but we are going to delay opening registration until May 1," says Kate Schmidt, Communications Specialist for the Delaware River Sojourn. "We will be making our decision based on the most up to date information and recommendations by health officials. As we always say, it's the people who make the Sojourn, and while we do not want to change our plans, we will do what is needed for everyone's health and safety," she says.
Donna Lind, race organizer for the annual Essex River Race in May and the Blackburn Challenge mid-July off Cape Ann, Mass. says, "We tentatively set the date for the Essex River Race to be Oct 3. I think if this goes on and on, we would cancel the Blackburn Challenge. We meet again in a week to discuss. Maybe we would throw out the ERR but October isn't always a good month for open ocean." Lind will send email updates from a list of former participants.
Distancing is easy on this Adirondack river trip, but the locks are a real problem. Photos by David Eden.
The Northern Forest Canoe Trail has taken precautions and sends this message to thru-paddlers: Everyone must follow any and all state-issued mandates for travel. Currently, all states on the NFCT except for Maine have issued "stay at home" orders. Under these guidelines, all paddlers should stay close to home, wherever that is. We recommend holding off on travel plans until it is safe to do so. Until this guidance changes, we cannot recommend thru-paddle attempts.
It also echoes what other outdoor programs have said, that now is not the time to take unnecessary risks while engaging in outdoor activities, since the health care system is already under enormous stress.
In Massachusetts, Trustees of Reservations has closed all properties making landing prohibited at its seaside properties like Crane Beach at Castle Hill and World's End, Mass.
RICKA (Rhode Island Canoe & Kayak) has posted this message to its members: "Until further notice, RICKA will not be posting any show and go trips on the message boards. Any bootleg paddles/hikes/activities posted on the board will be removed. Outdoor activity is crucial to a healthy lifestyle, but now is not the time to participate in large group activities. Please take all suggested precautions and hopefully this crisis will be over and we'll be back together soon."
As of press time, RICKA was still planning its annual Adirondacks week-long trip in August.
Although technically a family, this group included members from both sides of the country. It would be inadvisable for them to paddle together now. Photo by David Eden.
Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers in Florida posted this: "The TBSK Board has decided that at this time, in order to abide by the government health recommendations, it is best to shut down official TBSK Paddles for now - those advertised on our web site and with TBSK trip leaders.
We will keep a close watch on the situation, and as soon as we can, we will resume operations that are deemed appropriate. Trying to get a grip on this corona virus is tricky and trying to figure out the best policy for TBSK is just as difficult. Each day seems to bring a new government regulation and another beach or park closing.
To get the virus under control we have responsibilities as individuals and as a paddling club."
Some overrun National Parks are closing by request of their local communities. Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, said March 25 it was indefinitely shutting down public access because of the coronavirus outbreak. That includes all park roads. Park officials echoed what many rural communities and summer retreats have stated, "Continuing to keep park facilities open is encouraging visitors from outside local communities; this is placing local residents, health care workers and first responders at risk," said park Superintendent Kevin Schneider.
Meanwhile, in an effort so slow the spread of Covid-19, the Appalachian Mountain Club has temporarily closed all lodging and foodservice facilities and suspending all in-person staff and volunteer-lead programs. Good-bye for now to Knubble Bay, Maine.
The ocean beach at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Mass., had plans to close all public access beginning April 1 to provide undisturbed nesting habitat for the piping plover, listed as a threatened species under federal guidelines. It usually entirely reopens by mid to late August.
Annapolis Canoe and Kayak in Maryland has closed its store for as long as Maryland's restrictions for non-essential businesses remain in effect. That is also the case for many kayak stores. Some are making gear sales available other ways. Newbury Kayak and Canoe, Newbury, Mass., is encouraging customers to check out its online store, call and it will take the order over the phone and arrange a curbside pickup or a no-contact delivery. Someone will answer the phone a few days a week. Newburykayak.com
For larger outdoor retailers, REI has temporarily closed its stores, online store still open, and is offering free shipping. Patagonia has temporarily shut down all operations, including website orders. Its food business is still open, however, selling responsibly-sourced, shelf-stable, and nutritious foods.
Good separation on a recent H2Outfitters trip to the Saguenay Fjord, Quebec. Photo courtesy of H2Outfitters.
At H2Outfiiters in Maine, owners Jeff Cooper and Cathy Piffath are working on safe strategies. Right now, Piffath, who serves as Captain of their local volunteer Fire/Rescue Department, is directing energies there.
For sea kayaking, "As far as social distancing goes we see it more as a physical distancing," says Piffath. "There certainly seems to be plenty of socializing going on these days! We have had a couple of staff meetings already and while the on-water aspect of sea kayaking lends itself well to maintaining some private space, the preparation and physical outfitting for clients presents an entirely different set of challenges.
"Right now we are looking at ways to instruct and guide people to simply get in their boats and make the appropriate adjustments without one of our staff members sticking their head into a cockpit - this both for the safety of the client as well as staff. The other challenge is the cleaning and sterilization of wetsuits, sprayskirts, paddles, PFDs - this could go on ad infinitum. It gets crazy to be running around with Chlorox wipes and hand sanitizer. We are wondering how salt water affects viruses, which would without a doubt, ease some of these pressures on the outfitter," she says.
H20 is looking ahead. "We have several family trips already booked as well as some private group trips, however, the latter presents some unknowns especially if this outbreak continues into June and July. So to answer your question, we are in a state of flux and quite honestly do not have any concrete solutions to the situation I have described. It cramps our style, puts a bit of a damper on the 'Fun' factor, however, we are putting our trust in our Director of Fun to keep everyone smiling, we hope, on the water!," says Piffath.
This paddler has carried social distancing to the extreme. Photo by Olive Sauder.
Wilderness Systems recommends embarking only on a solo or family paddle trip and to:
• Abide by all instructions, regulations, and restrictions from international, national, and local authorities.
• Keep travel distances short.
• Keep your distance (6 feet) from others on and off the water.
• Avoid crowds and take turns at put-ins and take-outs.
• Plan your route appropriately and be mindful of conditions, weather, etc.
• Bring and wear the appropriate safety gear and clothing.
• Bring a charged cell phone or communication device.
• Inform someone where you're going and when you plan to return.
• Upon returning make sure to clean gear, clothes, and yourselves.
It also has a useful graphic on social distancing.
Ultimately, as NFCT says, "Getting outside and active, even for short periods, is good for your mental and physical health."
Let's go paddling. Safely.
